Coach ‘Spo’ changes Dwyane’s mind to retire
MIAMI Heat’s most accomplished superstar Dwyane Wade had, until last week, been strongly considering calling basketball over until Sunday when he met with coach Erik Spoelstra.
That Sunday, Wade himself, through a Twitter video, revealed his intention to play one more season detailing the lifestyle consideration that influenced his decision.
“Can I physically do it? Can I physically get out of bed every day to do this? Can I deal with every step hurting in the morning? Can I deal with the travel? Can I be away from my family? Is it selfish for me to want to continue to be away from my family?” Wade asked.
“These things to you guys may seem small. But to me, they’re real. I feel like my family has put me first for so many years, for good reasons. But there comes a point in time when we’ve all got to think about someone else, especially the ones around you that have supported you, supported your dreams, supported your journey like my family have, ”Wade added.
Wade, 36, in his 13 years tint with the Heat, has led the franchise in career points, assists, steals, and games played before leaving for Chicago in 2016, unhappy with what the Heat were offering him in free agency.
He later moved on to Cleveland, joining best friend LeBron James then received a hero’s welcome from Heat fans when he was traded back to Miami in February. He became a valuable reserve, averaging 12.0 points per night in 21 games while helping the Heat reach the postseason.
Wade made it clear in his announcement that he plans to retire once this season is complete, saying,“I’ve given this game everything that I have, and I’m happy about that, and I’m going to give it for one last season, everything else I have left.”
Wade has been holding his decision to hang up his playing uniform the past few weeks citing personal and family business to sort out as reasons. He also said negotiations with the team to reach an agreement that was agreeable to both sides delayed his decision.
Wade opted to accept a $2.4M veteran’s minimum contract rather than demand any of Miami’s $5.3M taxpayer mid-level exception. The financial implications of that decision are huge for a team already in luxury tax territory, tweeted salary cap expert Albert Nahmad.
With tax payments figured in, the total cost of re- signing Wade will be about $ 4M. If he had demanded the full MLE, the price would have risen to between $ 14M and $ 17M.
Wade will be the team’s 14th guaranteed contract, raising the total salary to about $130M. That projects to a $9.7M tax bill that could rise to $11.7M or fall to $7.3M depending on bonuses that the league considers likely.
Wade wanted to continue to have a significant role with the Heat in his final season, but he will be facing a different environment than he did at the end of last season, noted Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald.
Wade’s return could help put the Heat in contention for Jimmy Butler if the Timberwolves opt to trade him, Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel, for his part, wrote.